The exploration of space provides important benefits to life here on Earth. Because of their relatively low cost and quick development timelines, small satellites specifically are incredibly appealing both to established satellite users feeling the reality of fixed or declining budgets and to new entities looking to undertake their first space missions.
But despite their incredible promise and impressive results to date, small satellites cannot reach their full effectiveness without a launch vehicle optimized for their particular needs and capabilities.
Innovators in government labs, private companies, and universities have shown the world that even the smallest of satellites can accomplish significant things, and can transform the way we use spacecraft to improve life here on Earth, but to date have been limited by the cost and inflexibility of their launch options.
With LauncherOne, Virgin Galactic aims to solve that problem, dramatically cut the cost of launching small satellites while accommodating customer needs for launch availability and flexibility.
We have made great strides in developing LauncherOne since beginning work in earnest in mid-2012. With development being led by a dedicated team of more than 150 experienced professionals, the LauncherOne team has already conducted extensive component-level testing of the vehicle's key systems, including the vehicle's first and second stage liquid rocket engines, composite tanks, avionics, and others.
Earlier, the LauncherOne program moved into a new, 150,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Long Beach, California, which will be the home to the remainder of LauncherOne's development program as well as on-going manufacturing of launch vehicles.
Our customers have consistently asked us for more performance. When we announced the LauncherOne program, the small satellite market was still quite new and unproven. In the time since, the market has expanded to include many more satellite manufacturers and operators. Some of the satellite innovators are designing satellites larger than they had originally planned; other companies are seeking to launch multiple satellites at the same time. After many customers came to us asking for a more capable vehicle, we decided to give them exactly what they wanted.
When we initially announced LauncherOne, we pledged that customers would be able to launch ~120 kg to a standard Sun-Synchronous Orbit for less than US $10 million. Now, we are proud to offer customers the ability to launch 200 kg to the same orbit for that same amount. If customers desire additional capacity or services, they can also choose to purchase those.
